Improvement in temporary binders for indexing and preserving files



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

T. ORTON. Temporary Binders for Indexing and Preserving File.

No. 214,520. Patented April 22, 1879.

4 LAAALAA 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. T. ORTON.

Patented April 22, 1879.

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Id Zines 8 es UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS ORTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO IVILLIAM A. AMBERG, OFSAME PLACE.

FOR INDEXING AND PRESERVING FILES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 214,520, dated April22, 1879; application filed February 15, 1879.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS ORTON, of the city of Chicago, in the countyof Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Temporary Binders for Indexing and'Ireservi'ng Files,which is fully described in the following specification, reference beinghad to the accompanying draw- I ings, in which- Figure 1 represents aperspective view of a file-box with my improvements attached and thefile in place; Fig. 2, a detached view, in perspective, of a device forfastening the file in the box temporarily; Fig. 3, across-section of theindex, showing the construction of the elastic back and the mode ofattaching the leaves thereto; and Fig. 4, a perspective of a case inwhich the index-file is placedwhen full, together with its contents, forpreservation.

The object of my invention is to provide means for holding andprotecting the indexfile and contents while it is being filled withletters and other papers, and subsequently preserving them for easyreference at any time.

The invention consists in devices for temporarily fasteningtheindex-file within a file-box.

It also consists in the peculiar construction of the back and theattachment of the indexleaves thereto, whereby the back is made extensible.

In the drawings, A represents abox of suitable form, size, andconstruction to contain the index-file. It is provided with a lid, to,and is similar to the file-box described in Letters Patent No.193,128,granted to me July Within this box is placed an index-file, B, which maybe of any construction which will permit letters and other papers to befiled away between its leaves for preservation and readyreference.Preferably, however, I make this file with an extensible back, to whichthe separate index-leaves are attached. This back 0, I make by folding apiece of paper or other suitable material, and of the length requiredfor the file, in continuous folds, first in one direction, and then inthe .7

other, as shown in Fig. gof the drawings. The back edges of the leaves Dof the index i are inserted loosely between the folds of the back, asshown in Fig. of the drawings, and

a cord, 'E, passed through holes in the back and leaves, so as to fastenthem together. This cord I prefer to have elastic, and it should bepassed through two or more sets of holes and tied, so that it willoperate to compress the back and leaves, thereby aiding to keep thepapers between the leaves in place,

while at the same time it will yield as the file is gradually filled. I

For the purpose of fastening the file temporarily in the box, I employ afastening-plate, F, which is attached, by screws or any other suitablemeans, to the back of the box upon the inside. This plate has its upperand lower edges bent at right anglesto the body, so-as to form flangesf, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Notches f are cut in the ends ofthe lower flange f, and short spurs or projections f are struck up fromthe upper flange, which is cut so as to permit this to be done.

The fiistening-plate is arranged in the box so that the lower flange fwill be raised sufficiently from the bottomof the box to permit the backcover or leaf of the index-file to be slipped underneath it when thefile is placed in the box, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The'bindingcord E at the back of the file is placed in the notches fthereby fastening the file to the plate F, .but insuch a manner that itcan be readily detached whenever desired. Itinay be desirable to relievethe file from the compression of the elastic bindingcords E while it isbeing filled, and to accomplish this it may be stretched up above thefile and passed over the upper flange f, behind the stops f, as shown indotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the stops holding the cord inthis position. This latter device is not absolutely necessary, and theupper flange with the projecting stops f may bedispensed with entirely,if desired.

In Fig. l of the drawingsI have also shown a bent rod and hook forholding in the file; but this device forms no part of the inventionherein claimed.

It is sometimes desirable to set the file-case up on end, in whichposition, if the file is not full, the leaves will open somewhat, andthe 4 papers contained between them slip about and become disarranged.To avoid this Iprovide a band, H, which is made in two pieces, h, whichare fastened, respectively, to the ends of the file-box upon the insidethereof. One of these pieces is provided with a hook, h, and the otherwith a series of eyelets adapted to engage the hook, and one or both ofthe pieces should be made of elastic material. If the case is to be setup on end, the two portions of this binding-strap should be drawn overthe index-file and fastened, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, therebyholding the file and contents in place.

When the index-file is filled, or at the close of the year, or any otherdefinite period when it is desired to close a file, the index and itscontents are removed bodily from the case A, and transferred to a paperbox or case, I, which is prepared for preserving thefiles. This box ismade in the ordinary form of many paper boxes, so that when out, folded,and pasted it may be folded down into a perfectly flat position, andturned up again into a box form (shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings)whenever .it is desired to fill it. This supplementary case is made of asize corresponding to that of the index-file, so that the latter, withits contents included, may be placed within the case, the open end ofwhich may then be closed by any temporary fastening.

Upon the outside of the supplementary case I, I prefer an alphabeticalindex, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, arranging the index with halfthe letters on one side of the case and half on the other; and upon thisindexed space all the letters and postal cards contained in the file.within should be entered under the proper heading, two columns beingprovided, (marked in the drawings L and P,) in the first of which theletters should be entered, and in the latter the postal cards, thenumber of each under each name of the index being entered in the propercolumn.

The index thus prepared furnishes a ready reference to the contentswithin the case,

which may be inspected at any time by removing the index-file therefrom.In constructing the file I prefer to cover the indexsheets with heavypaper or board, or some other cheap material which will protect thesheets from wear, and by the use of a preserving-case, I, in connectiontherewith, papers may be kept in good condition for an indefiniteperiod.

The invention is not limited to the particular construction of theindex-file, however, for it is evident that it may be changed, and stillbe capable of use with the other devices specified and in making thefile as described above, the leaves and back may be fastened together bya cord, wire, or in any other suitable manner.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and wish. tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. Aplate or back, F, provided with flanges or projections at its upperand lower edges, whereby it is adapted to receive and spread the bin d.-ing-cord of the index while the latter is being filled, substantially asdescribed.

2; The fastening-plate F, provided with a flange, f, at its lower edge,having openings at the ends, and secured to the back of the filebox, incombination with an indexing-file, B, provided with a cord adapted tosecure the file to the plate, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

3. The file-box, in combination with the plate F, attached thereto, andprovided with upper and lower flanges, f,'constructed as described, andan index-file, B, having a suitable binding-cord, E, substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

4. An extensible-back index-file composed of disconnected sheets D and afolded back,

(J, the sheets being inserted between the foldsof the back, andconnected thereto by cords, rods, or wires passing through perforationsin all'the sheets and the folds of the back, substantially as set forth.

Jim. 0. MACGREGOR, W. 0. (Domains.

